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Hoping the Swedish Meatballs Hold Out in Red Hook

The Ikea in Brooklyn’s Red Hook neighborhood, the only one in New York City, is scheduled to open on June 18 at 9 a.m. (Photos: Gabriele Stabile for The New York Times)

So the first thing Ikea wants you to know: Customers will not be allowed to line up outside the new Ikea in Red Hook, Brooklyn, until 48 hours before the grand opening (which is scheduled for 9 a.m. on June 18).
That may seem like a bizarre warning, except that a man showed up two and a half weeks before the opening of West Sacramento Ikea store in California in 2006, and another person showed up two weeks early in Tempe, Ariz., in 2004. (In Brooklyn, there will be give-aways to early arrivals on that opening Wednesday, but not to the very first few people.)

There will be shuttles from three separate subway stations: the Smith and Ninth stop on the F and G line, the Fourth and Ninth stop on the R, and Borough Hall in Brooklyn, which is a major subway hub. (Look for the lollipop signs, courtesy of the Department of Transportation.)

The B61 and B77 bus lines will be extended to reach Ikea.

A free water taxi, operated by New York Water Taxi and paid for by Ikea, will leave from Pier 11 in Lower Manhattan and go right to Ikea’s own dock, every 40 minutes.

You can also drive, which is what most people in the world do to get to Ikea. The 22-acre site offers a parking lot with 1,500 spots but, as local residents point out, unlike most Ikeas it is not just off a major highway and thus will cause traffic problems.

Ikea has made efforts to preserve the maritime heritage of Red Hook through public displays, historical plaques and preserved articles. Enlarge this image.

Third, to help car-challenged New Yorkers, Ikea will be offering a courier service, starting at $39.99, where a box of three cubic feet can be delivered the same day or the next day.

“It’s a made-for-New-York thing,” said Mike Baker, the Red Hook Ikea store manager who was recruited from the Toronto Ikea.

Fourth, there is an absolutely unobstructed view of the Statue of Liberty (including the pedestal!) from the Ikea restaurant. So while drinking the bargain-priced lingonberry juice and munching on Swedish meatballs, you can savor a view that has been largely unappreciated in Red Hook’s recent history.

This was not an easy Ikea to shepherd into existence. In fact, it was arguably one of the hardest stores for the Swedish-based chain to get going in the United States, involving promises of significant environmental cleanup and overcoming a lot of community opposition. Despite the fact that there are three other Ikeas in the New York metro region — Paramus, N.J.; Elizabeth, N.J.; and Hicksville, on Long Island — it was symbolically important to have one inside New York City.

Ikea has spent a lot of effort in cleaning up the basin. Even this week, cranes continue to dredge large piles of wood from the river, even as construction crews were laying final details of the six-acre esplanade.

In addition, Ikea has tried to play to the neighborhood’s maritime history. It has preserved four sweeping cranes that were once used for loading and unloading. Old tools found on the site were painted orange and transformed into a public art exhibit. A motif inspired by the criss-crossed shadows cast from masts is repeated used throughout the outside. A number of chocks — stone blocks used to secure boats — have been lined up and labeled after historic ships that once docked at Red Hook. Pedestrians can walk by names like Kythnos, Delgado, Resolute and Gulf Glow.

(Red Hook is being transformed from a post-industrial landscape into a big-box retail center. But that may not even be the end of the evolution, as aged big-box stores across the country are themselves adapted into post-retail functions.)

In an effort to hire locally, Ikea gave residents within the 11231 ZIP code a three-week head start in the application process, which will ultimately bring in more than 500 employees. Mr. Baker, the store manager, said the company has been very happy with the results so far.

Is that enough? Well, give Ikea credit. As much criticism as it has received for traffic, importing, and labor practices, it has successfully managed to open a big-box store in New York City, perhaps the environment most hostile to big-box stores in the United States, one where even Wal-Mart has thrown in the towel.

An Ikea employee preparing merchandise for the opening. Local residents had a three-week head start in the job application process.

While I have outgrown IKEA’s line of furniture (as pretty as their stuff looks, they’re not meant for the ages), I think they serve a very important function, which is offering good designs for cheap – truly “design within reach.” Congrats on executing a difficult project. I hope the store works out. I have a guilty weakness for their meatballs and may take one of their myriad free transit options just to indulge.

Not a bad story but one thing should be clarified. The caption under the picture states that the new Ikea will be the first in New York City. Actually, in the late 80s and early 90s, Ikea operated a small store on the northwest corner of 57th and Lex. It was a flop and didn’t last long. That experiment was one of Ikea’s very few failures.

Many of my friends and neighbors on the Upper Eastside didn’t understand the concept of flatpack/construct it yourself as well as the need to arrange for delivery yourself. Ikea also didn’t quite understand the subtle changes they’d have to make to their products to accommodate the American and NYC market/s (such as using inches not centimeters and selling American style mattresses not the thin European so-called mattresses).

It’s great that Ikea has finally found a location for a real, super-sized typical Ikea store in NYC. As a former NY’er who met and married a Swede and lives a much more Ikea lifestyle (in Sweden!), I can highly recommend many of the Ikea products. Given the current economic conditions in the US, NY’ers will find very good value at Ikea.

It is amazing to me that people who will pay $3000 a month for a studio would continue to live like college students. I have visited Ikea, and there is nothing in that store that is appropriate for a well appointed home. I guess people do not realise that for a little more money, you can have real furniture.

Whether or not you actually like the store or want to shop there, I think you have to admit that opening up the public transportation in that area is a great thing. It’s obvious we’ll never get a subway over there, but the buses, shuttles and free water taxi will probably benefit the residents of that area enormously.

Blond Swedish modern furniture. I know it well.
Some people just don’t take to newly revised surroundings, but they’ll come to apprciate its presence as soon as this store opens.
In the meantime: please pass the smoked herring, I feel a real hearty appetite coming on.

A customer showed up two weeks early for Ikea? That’s nothing. Two years ago I was walking through Red Hook and I was stopped by a woman driving her car searching desperately for Ikea…seems she’d gotten a postcard announcing they’d be opening there in the future and she thought they were open already!

i think it’s good for the area. it’ll bring jobs to residents and make red hook seem less of a foreign outpost to potential residents and businesses.

but i know a lot of people who live in manhattan objected to this ikea being built there because ikea had to clear away a lot of abandoned buildings that had fallen into deep disrepair. the manhattanites complained that these buildings had historical significance and deserved preservation. while i won’t disagree, i wonder why if these buildings were so important, why they were permitted to degrade into the condition they were in before ikea stepped in. were any steps made to preserve or restore these buildings?

if there were steps taken, i’d like to know. i’m not trying to be negative, and i ask only because from what i’ve read over the past year, it really seems like people who live far away and didn’t need the opportunities offered by ikea (like jobs for the actual residents of red hook) were the ones who did the most complaining about ikea.

There is a grave oversight that many NY IKEA supporters make- they misunderstand the purpose of a neighborhood like Red Hook and others in the outer boroughs, which have been invaded by such big corporate entities as IKEA. Red Hook is a calm, quiet neighborhood that lures inhabitants who seek a residential area outside the craziness of the city. To many of these inhabitants, Red Hook’s distance and difficult commute is an asset, not fault, because it serves as protection from overdevelopment. The outer boroughs are not extensions of NY- they have their own vibe, their own character, their own uniqueness, and most importantly, their own autonomy. Manhattanites tend to forget this. So when IKEA gets resounding praise from Manhattanites, who delight in any new outlet who will sell cheap commodities (often from corporate entities which support immoral activities like buying wood from international suppliers that don’t adhere to international environmental standards), it’s a problem for those of us whose neighborhoods must change to accomodate yet again the needs of Manhattanites (who would never tolerate such a commercial development in their own neighborhood). Forgive me if I don’t join you in your praise… or shopping.

As a soon to be 60 year old, I have lived with Ikea furniture for 15 years and I consider the pieces that I have to be furniture. The kitchen, all of it except appliances, all the bookcases and storage in the living room and all the wardrobes, 6 of them, in the bedroom are from Ikea. I also have “real” furniture, but Ikea makes good stuff and fits a budget when you move from a tiny studio to a “real” apartment. I aslo have family in Norway who have large homes and second homes and Ikea is used by them for many things from large pieces down to candles.

It is great that Ikea is opening up in Red Hook. I have lived in Red Hook for all of my life and as a resident, I believe that Ikea has done a great job with creating job opportunities to people in the Red Hook community. In my opinion, I do not believe that Ikea will perpetrate the racial divide in Red Hook. This store is providing a job opportunities for everyone in the Red Hook area and will be a means of achieving a better quality of life for many Red Hook Houses residents. I don’t see how this will further racial division and I would love for some one to show me.

This article states that some Red Hook residents are against the new Ikea partly because of the traffic that it will create in the area. Being a life-long Red Hook resident I totally disagree with this. Red Hook is already known for being an industrial/residental neighborhood situated under the BQE and next to the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel. Traffic in this area is already an everyday occurance with tractor trailers traveling up and down Clinton street 24 hours a day. I feel that residents who are new to the Red Hook area who are against the stores opening in the area should take into account how much it will benefit them; The B61 and B77 will have extended service that will end at Ikea instead of at obscure locations in the neighborhood. This is definitely a benefit to residents who don’t live in Red Hook Houses since it will eliminate the 20-30 minute walk to and from the Smith & 9th Street train station. I also believe that Ikea will bring attention to other businesses in the neighborhood by encouraging people to take a look at what Red Hook has to offer.
It is important for people who are reporting on this topic and/or giving their opinion on the new Ikeas’ role in Red Hook to look to longtime residents of the neighborhood to get a true feel of how the community feels about the stores’ opening. Most articles that I have read only look at things from the perspective of residents who recently moved into Red Hook because it is the “new up and coming neighborhood in Brooklyn”.

I think it is estimated that 12,000 cars a day will head to Red Hook which is 1 sq. mile in size. It is hard to find your way there (and out) on the best of days. The city has not prepared for it and Red Hook isn’t prepared for the invasion. Goodbye Red Hook. Hello cars. As a resident this is depressing.

I am not a big fan of IKEA…I find their stuff to be expensive and pure junk. I would rather use that money and by some real furniture even if I have to pay more, I would and at least it would be long lasting. I dont understand whats the point of building IKEA in Brooklyn because there are 2 right across the river in NJ. I guess IKEA wants everyone in NYC to have their furniture. But like someone said above that if you are paying so much in rent, why would you want to buy junk? Just a thought..

From what I understand, the area of Red Hook, Brooklyn, has been troubled as of late. Perhaps what it needs is more retail destinations. Red Hook, like any area in Brooklyn holds the promise of becoming more valuable over time. As people look for less costly living arrangements outside of Manhattan, Brooklyn has no doubt become a hotspot for many New Yorkers. Red Hook hasn’t benefitted as of yet, due to poor accessibility from subways, and a bad reputation due to crime. Detractors say IKEA will serve to divide the community. I fail to see how this is possible. First, IKEA offers furniture that by all means is affordable. This inexpensive aspect of the company does not mean that only the richest New York residents will visit the new store. Also, as long as IKEA practices fair hiring policies, there is no reason to suspect a racial divide growing stronger in the neighborhood.
However, raised awareness of the Red Hook area, thanks to IKEA, may help growth in that neighborhood. Also, the extended bus routes may help make the neighborhood more accessible in the long run. When people come to IKEA to eat and shop, they may be surprised by the view of the Statue of Liberty. The water view may draw some future residents. Awareness is the key in the future growth of Red Hook. An influx of shoppers means an increase in land value.
Also, those who are unemployed or unhappy with their jobs in Red Hook may be provided with a better workplace by IKEA. IKEA’s acknowledgement of Red Hook’s history by preserving unused cranes and artifacts found on the work cite also show a respect for the neighborhood that many corporations simply lack. Hopefully the IKEA will let Red Hook bloom by drawing more attention the unique atmosphere of Red Hook.

I agree with some of the comments above re: the quality of the IKEA stuff.
Some of their items are decent, and some are not. And in the end, one is better off paying a bit more money now, and having a piece that will last decades, rather then buying the some piece, every three to four years, and spending more in the long term.
Also, is it not better for the environment, to buy one piece, and really own it. Rather then buying a piece, throwing it away after 3 years, buying another piece, etc.

I also agree that Red Hook will become a nightmare. This is NYC. Why is a store this large opening so far away from the subways?!

Did not the current city mayor state his desire for a cleaner NYC, million tree plantings, etc. So how did this happen?

The residents of Queens & Brooklyn who own a car are not going to take a ferry or bus to IKEA and then have to shell out $40 or more to get their stuff home. They will drive.

Saturday/Sunday days in Red Hook, with this traffic mess, forget about it.

IKEA IN BROOKLYN! Ikea remains to be at the forefront of design and function. They are like the Helvetica font of furniture! How awesome! I am so excited. And Ikea is in no way expensive. Plus I still have furniture that I have had for over 10 years, thanks to IKEA! I’m excited!

I can’t believe some of the comments I am reading here and that the NY Times has chosen to publish this press release about Ikea. First of all, this was never an Ikea friendly location. The only way that Ikea got into Red Hook was by telling the people who live in the projects that there would be new jobs for them. However Ikea has refused to release the number of people that they hired from the Red Hook projects.

How many times will this city make the same mistake and give their beautiful water front away and to a store who will be trucking all the furniture in! The land that Ikea is on offers some of the most beautiful waterfront views this city has to offer. As they correctly point out in this press release, Ikea will offer beautiful views of the Statue of Liberty while you eat your Swedish meatballs. Also, now all the people visiting New York on cruise ships will see the Statue of Liberty and yellows and blues of Ikea (and the Swedish flag) as they sail into New York Harbor.

The people who are most upset about this are not people in Manhattan as some of the comments on this thread would want you to believe, but people like me who live in Brooklyn who are extremely saddened that the city gave this beautiful waterfront land to Ikea, when there were so many other better places that Ikea could have gone. But Ikea wanted the views of the Statue of Liberty and wanted the amazing marketing of being seen by everyone who comes into and leaves New York Harbor.

Ikea Red Hook’s opening day will truly be a sad day for Brooklyn and for all of New York city.

Someone willing to spend the time and money can make a good living on eBay buying things at Ikea and being willing to ship them (which Ikea is not.) You can easily sell $6 widgits for $15 — several people already do and do huge volume.

as a resident i am afraid of the traffic to and from Ikea will overrun the only non-car transportation in and out of the neighborhood, THE BUS. The B61 and B77 are already turtle slow during peak time and sharing the road with all the traffic to and from Ikea will be a nightmare. We don’t all work at Ikea, some of us have to commute.

If the city and Ikea make an effort to have a bus only street THEN I’ll be more satisfied that they are helping the neighborhood rather than hindering it.

And they should run the free ferry 7 days a week, not just on the weekends.

Ikea is the most un eco-friendly store in the universe. The endless stream of garbage that comes out of that place boggles the mind (i’m not making any subjective opinion on how it looks here, just noting that they mass produce cheap stuff that will ultimately end up in landfills). I do find it ironic that a Scandinavian country would be perpetrating global crimes like this on the environment. Eat it up New Yorkers, just think of it as what it is, an endless stream of disposable junk.

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